Clothes dampener for clothes driers



June 21, 1960 c. A. COBB CLOTHES DAMPEINER FOR CLOTHES DRIERS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1956 C. A. COBB CLOTHES DAMPENER FORCLOTHES DRIERS June 21,1960.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 13, 1956 United States 8 Claims. (Cl. 3460)The present invention relates to an improved method and device fordampening dry clothes in preparation for ironing. I I

Present domestic home laundries commonly include automatic clothesdriers. These driers employ an enclosure drum which is cylindrical inshape and rotatable about a horizontal axis to tumble the clothestherein. Means are provided for moving a flow of heated drying airthrough the drum to evaporate the moisture from the clothes and carrythe moist air away to thereby dry the clothes. The clothes then,normally are removed from the drier and some are folded while otherarticles of clothing are ironed or mangled.

Before the clothes can be ironed, they must be damp ened or lightlywetted by the housewife in order that the ironing process be successful,as completely dry clothes cannot be properly ironed. To dampen theclothes, the housewife frequently spreads them on a fiat surface andsprinkles a layer of water on the articles of clothing, whereupon theyare rolled to permit the moisture to evenly dampen the entire layer andpermeate through the surfacesof the material. It is recognized that thismanual dampening encompasses disadvantages in that the moisture cannotbe evenly applied and uneven wetness of the material does not producethe best ironing surface. Further, in the manual process it is necessaryto store the clothes for a period of time until the dampening process iscomplete. Also there is no means of controlling the exact amount ofmoisture in proportion to the total amount of clothes and the entireprocedure is dependenton the skill and care which the housewife iswilling to take in this time-consuming operation.

The present invention has as one of its objectives the provision of amethod and an apparatus for automatically dampening dry clothes beforeironing and dampening the fibers of the clothing uniformly and evenly inorder that they may immediately be ironed. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and mechanismwhich will uniformly and evenly dampen the fibers of clothing beforeironing and which will consistently supply a controlled amount ofdampening fluid to a given amount of clothes and which makes it possibleto controllably vary the amount of dampness supplied to the articles ofclothing. I

A further object of the invention is to rovide improved method andmechanism whereby a domestic type clothes drier such as found in thehome laundry may be utilized as a clothes dampener without necessitatingthe provision of additional space-consuming and expensive laundryequipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an impr'ov'ed fluidcontainer which may be tumbled in a drier drum with dry clothes andwhich dispenses moisture at a uniform rate over a period of time toevenly and gradually wet the fibers of articles tumbled in a drier drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide an proved clothesdampening container adapted to be tumatent l ateiited June 21, 1960 entwith the teaching of the principles of the invention I in theaccompanying disclosure in the specification and claims and in thedrawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a clothes drier with the frontremoved to observe the interior, illustrating the operation of a clothesdrier drum in combination with the dampening container; I I

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a preferred form of the dampeningcontainer with a portion of the container broken away to illustrate theconstruction thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the dampening container of Figure 2; I I

Figure 4 is an elevational view of another form of dampening containerwith a portion of the wall broken away to illustrate its construction; II

Figure 5 is an elevational view of another form of the dampeningcontainer; and,

Figure 6 is a view of a portion of the top of the container of Figmre 5shown in vertical section to illustrate the construction of thecontainer wall and closure cap.

Figure 1 illustrates a clothes drier 10 of the general type used indomestic laundries. The drier is provided with a housing or cabinet '12resting on feet or supporting legs 14 and 16. I

Within the cabinet 12 is mounted a cylindrically shaped hollow drierdrum 18 which is suitably mounted for rotation about its horizontal axis20". The drum 18 is provided with a drive pulley 22 over which isthreaded a drive belt 24. The drive belt also passes over the drivepulley 26 of a motor 28 and when the motor is operated the drum will beturned in rotation. I

Within the drum are radially extending fins or ribs 30, 32, 34 and 36which encourage the clothing 38- within the drum to tumble over as thedrum is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 4th In normaloperation of the drier for drying purposes, heated air is forced throughthe drum to evaporate the moisture and carry oif the moist air. For thispurpose, the drum may carry an annular perforatedarea 42 in its rearwall 44 and heated d-r-ying air will enter through an intake opening 46and leave through an exhaust opening 48 carrying off the moisture-ladenair. I I

For heating the air and forcing. itthrough the drier drum, a duct 50leads upwardly to terminate in the port 46. Within the duct areelectrically heated or gas-fueled heating elements 52. Also providedeither within the duct 50, or adjacent the discharge opening 49, is anelectrically powered fan 54 for drawing the air through the drum. I i

The heating elements 52, the operation of the fan. 54, and the operationof the rotational motor 28, is controlled by a suitable control means56, shown as mounted at the top of the drier cabinet 12. The control 56is arranged so that it may turn off the heatingrelement 52, and merelyoperate the mechanism by turning the drum 18 in rotation and operatingthe blower. This will be the preferred condition of the control foroperation as a clothes dampening machine, as will be described indetail. The control, however, may be adapted so that it canbe set torotate the drumwith both the heating eIementSZ and the fan 54inoperative.

To utilize the rotatable drier drum 18 as a clothes dampening mechanismit is utilized in cooperation with a moisture dispensing container 58adapted to be placed within the drier drum and tumbled therein with theclothes 38 while the druni is being rotated.

'trated in Figures 2 and 3.

The container is preferably spherical in form and is or resilientmaterial which will be depressed when the container is carried up to thedotted line position shown in Figure 1 to fall down into the clothing.As the container lands in the clothing, the shock of the suddentermination of its downward velocity, the depression of the resilientwall of the container, and the absorption by the clothes of the moisturein the container openings 60 will all cooperate to evenly and graduallyapply the dampening moisture in the container to the clothing.

A preferred form of the dampening container is illus- The container 58is spherical in form and is lightweight, being formed with a thin,spherical, flexible, resilient wall 62. The wall may be formed of amaterial such as rubber or the like or may be formed of a plastic suchas polyethylene.

Although not essential, in one form the container wall 62 may be formedof a transparent material so that the quantity of liquid may be visiblefrom the outside. For purposes of determining the exact amount to fillthe container, the container is marked on the outer surface with indicia64 indicative of the contents.

The location of this indicia which is marked Light, Medium and Heavy isrelated to the quantity of clothes placed in the drier.

The markings are utilized to apply optimum sprinkling to the clothes atall times when the weight of the load of clothes in the drier is known.Therefore, if a light load of clothing is to be placed in the drier, thecontainer is filled only to the Light marking. Likewise with a medium orheavy load, the container is filled to the Medium or Heavy marking.

. The location of the markings may also be related to the amount ofdampness to be applied to the clothes. In this case the drier willcontain an average full load of clothes. In filling the container 58,.if a light sprinkling is to be applied, a quantity of water or dampeningfluid is filled into the container until it rises to the word Light.Likewise if a medium or heavy sprinkling is to be applied to theclothes, fluid is filled into the container until it rises to the Mediumor Heavy marking.

For purposes of filling'the container, the container wall 62 is providedwith a small circular opening 66 at the top, into which is fitted agrommet 68 formed of hard rubber, plastic or the like. The grommet has acentrally located axial opening 69 which is threaded to receive theclosing plug 70. The closing plug is provided with a central flange 72in order that it may be manually gripped and rotated for threading intoand out of the threaded bore 69 in the grommet 68.

A small axial vent hole 74 extends through the center of the plug forthe entrance and escape of air as the container is flexed when ittumbles within the drum. The air also replaces the fluid which escapesfrom the container through thedispensing openings 60.

These openings are spaced and evenly distributed over the top section ofthe spherical container. The location of the small openings 60 ispreferably limited to the area above the upper marking indicated atHeavy in order that the container may be filled with its maximumcontents without any fluid escaping through the holes 69. The holes arepreferably small so that only a small amount of moisture escapes whenthe ball is inverted, and so that the escapement of moisture will belimited as the container tumbles within the rotating drum.

Inthe form illustrated in Figure 4, the spherical container 76 is formedwith a thin, lightweight wall 78 of rubber or plastic which may betransparent and which is pliable and resilient in nature. In the wallare formed tight lipped lances 80 which are illustrated as formed inthree rows 82, 84 and 86 extending horizontally and circumferentiallyaround the spherical container 76.

The lances are narrow slits formed through the wall of the containerwhich permit the escape of fluid from the container as the wall isflexed and distorted while being tumbled within the drying drum.

The top of the container is provided with a cap 88 which is suitablysecured thereto, and an axial vent opening 90 extends down through thecenter of the cap.

In the form illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the spherical container isshown at 99 formed with a thin, lightweight wall 100 of rubber,transparent plastic or the like.

The wall is provided with markings 102, 194 and 106 which respectivelyindicate a Light, Medium, or Heavy load of clothes and the container 99is filled to the appropriate level in accordance with the amount ofclothing placed in the container. Or, as referred to in connection withFigures 2 and 3, the markings may be used to indicate the amount ofdampness to be applied to a standard load of clothing. 7

In the form of the container shown in Figures 5 and 6, the sphericalwall of the container is imperforate and the fluid escape openings areprovided in the cap 108.

The spherical wall is provided with a circular opening 110 at the topinto which the cap isprojected in'closed position. The body 112 of thecap has an annular extending flange 114, projecting downwardly from thebody, which flares outwardly at 116 to lock beneath the edges of theopening 110 in the container wall. The body 112 of the cap projectsoutwardly a sufficient distance beyond the edge of the opening 110 toadequately seal the open ing. With the wall 100 of the container beingformed of a relatively flexible or elastic material, the cap may beeasily pulled open and replaced by stretching the material at theopening 110.

The cap is provided with an upstanding handle or flange 118 for handlingand for removing and replacing.

Through the body 112 of the cap 108, are formed a plurality of fluidescape openings 120. These fluid escape openings permit the discharge ofthe dampening fluid as the container 99 is tumbled within the drier drumand the fluid is thereby applied to the clothing.

Thus, it will be seen that the containers in the form shown at 58, 76 or99, are simple and inexpensive in construction and can be utilized as asimple addition to a clothes drier to provide a complete dampeningmechanism without necessitating the provision of additionalspace-consuming and expensive laundry equipment.-

As an example of operation with a standard type'of domestic laundrydrier, a spherical container of five inches in diameter may be used.About five pounds of'dry clothes may be placed in the container foreffective tumbling and for a complete and effective dampening. One andone-half pounds of water is placed in the con tainer. The drier then maybe operated for a period of five minutes and at the completion of thistime the clothes will be uniformly and completely dampened and ready forironing and mangling without additional wait or preparation. It has beenfound that only a small amount of moisture is lost by the circulatingair stream, on the order of one ounce for the one and one-half pounds ofwater.

The operation simply requires placing the dry clothes within the drierdrum and in some instances where all the clothes are to be dampened anda precise and a uni:

, form dampening is to be achieved, the clothes are completely dried andthen left in the drier to be dampened. After the clothes are properlyplaced in the drier, the spherical container is filled with theappropriate amount of water and the cap is placed on the container. Thecontainer is then placed within the drier drum with the clothes and thecontrol is set to rotate the drum and pass air through the drier. Thecontrol is set so that the heater will be turned off, but the motor andfan will be in operation.

The complete and even dispersion of fluid through the clothes isaccomplished by the contact between the container and all areas of theclothes and by the concurrent flow of air through the clothes.

Although the flow of air is important to the uniform results, in someinstances it may be desirable to only tumble the clothes with no flow ofair for the dampening process.

Thus, it will be seen that we have provided an improved method anddevice for dampening clothes which meets the objectives and advantageshereinbefore set forth. The construction, operation and use of thedevice and method provided herein are simple and effective and provideresults of uniformity and eflectiveness which are superior to manualdampening and methods heretofore used.

I have, in the drawings and specification, presented a detaileddisclosure of the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is to beunderstood that I do not intend to limit the invention to the specificform disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications, changes andalternative constructions and methods falling Within the scope of theprinciples taught by my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a rotatable drier drum enclosure for tumblingarticles of clothing, means for driving the drum in rotation, means forheating air to be circulated through the drum, means for circulating theheated air through the drum for drying the clothing, control means foroperating the heating and circulating means and the drum driving meanstogether or for operating the driving and circulating meansindependently, and a fluid containing dampening ball having fluid escapeapertures therein and adapted for insertion into the drum to be tumbledwith dry clothes and dampen them when the control means is set tooperate the driving and the circulating means without the heating means.

2. A device for dampening clothes comprising a rotatable drim whereinclothes may be contained and tumbled, means for driving the drum inrotation, presettable control means operatively connected to control theoperation of the driving means, a hollow fluid dispensing container of asize to be located within the drum and adapted to be tumbled toaccompany clothes tumbled therein, said container having access meansfor filling the container with fluid and having a wall formed of aflexible deformable material, and fluid escape means in the wall of thecontainer permitting the escape of fluid as the flexible wall of thecontainer is deformed with tumbling within the drum.

3. In combination with a drier having a rotatable drum, a device fordampening clothes tumbled within the rotatable drum comprising a hollowfluid dispensing container of a size to be located within the drum toaccompany clothes tumbled therein, said container having access meansfor filling the container with fluid and having a wall formed of aflexible resilient material, and spaced elongated tight lipped lancesformed in the Wall of the fluid dispensing container which permit theescape of fluid with the deformation of the wall closely adjacent thelances and with temporarily increased pressure within the container asit is tumbled within the drum.

4. A device for dampening clothes comprising a rotatable drum whereinclothes may be contained and tumbled, means for driving the drum inrotation, presettable control means operatively connected to control theoperation of the driving means, a spherically shaped container adaptedto be tumbled within the rotating drier drum and having a resilientwall, an opening in said wall for filling the container with a fluidclosure for the opening, and a plurality of openings in the containerwall of a size which will not pass fluid of the viscosity and surfacetension of water from the pressure head of the water inside thecontainer but will permit the passage of water with increased pressuresuch as is encountered by the container being dropped and tumbled withina clothes drier drum.

5. In combination, a rotatable drier drum enclosure for tumblingarticles of clothing, means for driving the drum in rotation; means forheating air to be circulated through the drum, means for circulating theheated air through the drum for drying the clothing, control means foroperating the heating and circulating means and the drum driving meanstogether or for operating the driving and circulating meansindependently, and a fluid containing dampening hollow container havingfluid escape apertures therein and adapted for insertion into the drumto be tumbled with dry clothes and dampen them when the control means isset to operate the driving and the circulating means without the heatingmeans.

6. In combination, a rotatable drier drum enclosure for tumblingarticles of clothing, means for driving the drum in rotation, means forheating air to be circulated through the drum, means for circulating theheated air through the drum for drying the clothing, control means foroperating the heating and circulating means and the drum driving meanstogether or for operating the driving and circulating meansindependently, and a dampening container for fluid having fluid escapeapertures therein and adapted for insertion into the drum to be tumbledwith dry clothes and dampen them.

7. In combination with a drier having a rotatable drum, a device to becooperatively used for the drier drum and to be tumbled therein with dryclothes to impart-moisture uniformly thereto comprising a container andcap means for filling the container with fluid, said container having ayieldable resilient wall with a plurality of fluid escape openingsformed therein of such size that the diffusion of water will increaseupon said container being dropped and tumbled within the clothes drierdrum.

8. In combination, a rotatable drum for tumbling clothes therein, and acontainer adapted to be charged with liquid and inserted in said drumfor simultaneous tumbling with the clothes, said container having wallsformed with openings to diffuse a supply of dampening liquid to thetumbling clothes, said walls of said container being resilient andyielding in response to the tumbling action in said drum to provideeffective diffusion of dampening liquid from said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS671,423 McTernen Apr. 2, 1901 725,954 Goldman Apr. 21, 1903 940,593Hardman Nov. 16, 1909 2,079,280 Couch May 4, 1937 2,655,735 Traube Oct.20, 1953 2,812,593 Olthuis Nov. 12, 1957 2,851,791 Olthuis Sept. 16,1958

